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SIKKIM OBSERVER Page 1  Saturday   Oct 5-11,  2013    

TREMOR CAUSES PANIC IN GANGTOK

Epicentre near Dikchu Teesta hydel project dam

Gangtok, Oct 4: A 5.0 magnitude earthquake rattled Sikkim on Thursday, Regional Seismological Centre in Shillong said. Tremors were felt in Darjeeling, Siliguri and Nepal.

The tremors forced people to rush out of their homes. Schools, colleges and offices quickly closed down.

Massive traffic jam was witnessed in the capital due to the panic. No casualties have been reported till now. Some buildings had developed cracks and people were out on the streets.

The epicentre of the quake that struck at 11.43 am was at a place in Sikkim whose latitude and longitude were 27.4 degree N and 88.5 degree E respectively, the sources said.

The Indian Meteorological Department MET has confirmed that epicenter of the earthquake was close to the NHPC Damsite of Teesta Stage V in Dikchu at Sangtok in North Sikkim. The official confirmation go in parallel to the satellite picture available in Google Earth depicting the terrain and dam location in vicinity.

A report from Siliguri said the tremor was also felt in Siliguri and people came out of their houses in panic.

A moderate earthquake measuring 5.7 on Richter scale shook eastern hills of Nepal on Thursday but there were no reports of any casualty or damage.

The earthquake was recorded in eastern Nepal at 11:57 am, according to National Seismological Centre of Nepal, PTI reported.

Minor tremors were also felt in the Kathmandu Valley, the Centre has confirmed.

Golay all set to end Chamling’s ‘misrule’: SKM

Gangtok, Oct 4: The eight-month-old Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) is all set to welcome its leader PS Golay into the party during a mammoth public meeting of the party here at the Paljor Stadium on Sunday.

SKM Working President Bharati Sharma said the party is ready to “formally launch its peaceful and democratic movement” for rule of “law and good governance”.

In her appeal to the public, Sharma said her party believes that the Sikkimese people deserves a “better deal” and is ready to bring “profound changes” to end Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s “misrule” and “dictatorial” tendencies.

The party will observe October 6 as ‘Parivartan Diwa’ and the occasion is aimed at redeeming “Sikkim’s exteemed glory and self-respect”.

Party leaders and supporters are going all out to ensure that a maximum number of people attend the meeting, where Golay is expected to speak on SKM’s plans and programmes.

The former minister, who accused Chamling of betraying the people’s trust and encouraging rampant corruption, quit the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) recently and resigned as its MLA. Golay floated SKM on February 4 this year but remained in the background only.

Suspend, review illegal Teesta hydel projects in Sikkim: report

“The Teesta would run dry”

Gagntok, Oct 4: Sikkim could be in for a Goa-like scam of environmental violations with several hydroelectric projects coming up on the Teesta river basin without mandatory wildlife clearance, flouting Supreme Court orders, a team of the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) has warned in a report to the Union Environment and Forests Ministry.

The board has drawn a parallel with the scam in Goa, where rampant illegal iron mining took place without clearances. After the Justice M.B. Shah Commission unearthed systematic violation of regulations in Goa, the Centre ordered complete suspension of mining, based on its recommendations. A PIL petition on the matter is now being heard in the Supreme Court, The Hindu reported.

The NBWL is the apex body on wildlife policy issues under the Wildlife Protection Act, headed by the Prime Minister. The court has mandated that all projects coming within 10 km of national parks and sanctuaries seek prior clearance from the board’s standing committee.

After proponents of the NHPC’s 520-MW Teesta 4 applied for clearance, the board sent a team which found that the project would submerge forests in the eco-sensitive area of the Khangchendzonga National Park, besides causing other ecological damage. Worse still, the team found, private developers had already begun construction on several projects in the river basin, in the vicinity of protected wildlife areas, without mandatory clearances, the report said.

Those coming up illegally are the Teesta III, Dik Chu, Panan, Tashiding and Ting-Ting hydroelectric projects, according to the team. The team members tried to elicit comprehensive information from State officials but were stonewalled and left to ascertain the facts for themselves.

They noted that so many dams with tunnels had been planned and some were already under construction on the Teesta that the river could practically run dry through a large part of its course in the State. A “tragic consequence” of such large-scale diversion would be that between Teesta III and Teesta VI project sites most of the water would flow through the tunnels rather than in the actual course of the river.

The NBWL team has recommended a comprehensive review of all existing and proposed projects in the basin. It has demanded a thorough investigation into the projects coming up illegally in Sikkim. Basing its views on the Shah Commission report on Goa, it recommended immediate suspension of activity in the basin until the government thoroughly investigated the illegalities and looked into clearances for each project.

A hunger strike on October 2, 1999

It was on Oct 2, 1999 - 14 years ago - that a group of political activists took an open stand on restoration of political rights of the Sikkimese people. The demands were: restoration of Assembly seats for Sikkimese Nepalese and ‘genuine representation’ in the Assembly for Sikkimese Bhutia-Lepchas. Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) under the leadership of Nima Lepcha and Pintso Bhutia, Organisation of Sikkimese Unity (OSU) led by Jigme N Kazi and Sikkimese Nepalese Apex Committee (SNAC) led by Krishna Chandra Pradhan held a one day token hunger strike on Bhanu Jayanti at 'Bhutia-Lepcha House' in Gangtok. 
There was no response from Gangtok and New Delhi. In fact, the leaders were targeted and lured. Meanwhile, the political situation is getting worse...a political earthquake is bound to take place in the near future...we deserve what's coming.

Editorial

RAHUL LEADS

Corruption Back On Agenda

Rahul Gandhi's anti-corruption stand needs to be appreciated and highlighted. His opposition to safeguarding criminals in our legislatures ought to be taken seriously. The first victim of Rahul's bombshell is Lalu Prasad Yadav...more heads should roll. Congress stalwarts who cannot digest the likes of Rahul Gandhi should quit or fall in line. By going against his own party on the ordinance meant to protect corrupt lawmakers Rahul Gandhi has set the agenda on corruption. Modi may be a good orator but Rahul's action has given hope to those battling corrupt politicians in high places.

Politicians who indulge in communal and casteist politics have one aim in mind: to stay in power and make money whatever the cost. They lure opposition leaders, social activists, journalists and the intelligentsia to remain in power. Those, including opposition leaders who pretend to combat corruption, who criticize Rahul for the manner in which he took on the Congress party and the UPA government on the ordinance to shield criminals and corrupt lawmakers, stand exposed. In going against Rahul they have sided with the corrupt. Lead on, Rahul…India is behind you.

Justice Jain takes oath as HC Judge

Gangtok, Oct 4: Governor Shrinivas Patil administered the oath of office to  Justice Narendra Kumar Jain as Judge of High Court of Sikkim here at Raj Bhawan on Monday.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, Speaker, Sikkim Legislative Assembly, KT Gyaltsen, Chief Justice and Judge High Court of Sikkim, Sikkim MPs and MLAs.

Night flight service takes off on Bagdogra-Kolkata route

Siliguri, Oct 4: The first night flight from Kolkata to Bagdogra in North Bengal began on Tuesday.

Bagdogra airport director KK Bhowmik and travel and tour operators gave fifty-six passengers. including North Bengal development minister Goutam Deb, a warm welcome.

The beginning of night landing would go a long way to boost tourism industry and economic activities in the region, said Sunil Agarwal, joint director of West Bengal Tourism.

Sinha Roy, a councillor of ward number 11 of Bidhannagar Municipality, and Gangopadhya, a retired State Bank of India official were the lucky passengers on board the Spice Jet Flight returning to Kolkata, The Hindustan Times reported.

Their Air India’s afternoon flight to Kolkata was cancelled earlier in the evening. Had their been no flight to Kolkata, they would have been forced into a night halt at Bagdogra.

Deb expected more flight operators would start their night services from Bagdogra.

Norway’s Crown Prince stayed in Dzongu

Congratulations to environmental activist-cum-entrepreneur Gyatso Lepcha of Dzongu, North Sikkim, for the Best Homestay Award received on the occasion of World Tourism Day this week, for Mayal Lyang Homestay.

Started in 2010 by Gyatso and his wife, Mayal Lyang Homestay made news when the Crown Prince of Norway stayed there with his family. Which was subsequently covered by even the History Channel!

Gyatso, along with Dawa Lepcha, Tenzing Lepcha and other anti-dam youth activists, put up stiff resistance to multi-crore hydel projects in Dzongu in 2008 but without much success as the Chamling Government was determined to continue with the projects.

An Ode to Sikkim, the blessed Hidden Land

By DIYANG GYATSO                                                                                                                                       

For my Beloved Uncle Lt. Yab Tashi Tobgay Tobden (01.12.1948 - 06.04.2009) and Aunt Lt. Choom Chukie Tobden Wakjilingpa (28.11.1954-06.04.2009)…mentor, friend, confidant … guardian angels.

It has been said that whatever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger and I know that this stands true for every Sikkimese since that frightfully, petrifying episode of an earthquake that jolted the otherwise composed place that we call home – SIKKIM.

The best part of it all, however, is that everyone is chipping in to do their bit…it just doesn’t get better than this…I wish the people who I know who really cared about Sikkim were here to see this today.  So, I’m going to dedicate this note to the people who repeatedly recounted the history of Sikkim to me, ever since I can remember and how we could be going about it in the erroneous way … it all make’s sense to me now and I earnestly hope it does the same for you too.

After much thought and a little more of looking deeper within, I couldn’t help but notice how blessed the place really is…let me explain myself and see if you can help me make sense of the statement I just made.

Gyalwa Latsun Chenpo

Here’s a brief background history of Sikkim that I have borrowed and would love for all to read, discuss, question, answer, argue, portray, accept, reject, represent - BUT above all be conscious of, so we all apprehend how special and unique this place really is… so we all know where we’re coming from… so we all have a sense of belonging… so we know how much is really at stake

…and so, Sikkim is a land blessed by Mahagru Padmasambhava, popularly known as Guru Rinpoche, in the 8th century AD. 

Dey-jong Nay-yik (descriptive scriptures about Sikkim) and Ney-sol Pecha (prayer texts dedicated to deities in Sikkim) have given detail accounts of Sikkim as bey-yul or a hidden land. These Buddhist scriptures mention about three stages of discovery and civilization in Sikkim as, early period, middle period and later or modern period, although the records mention about the existence of Lepcha tradition prior to these periods.

Ghangchhen mZod Nga, the main protector deity of Sikkim, identified as Mount Ghangchhe – mZod – Nga (Kanchenjunga) is blessed by Guru Rinpoche. In Sikkim, this sacred mountain peak is surrounded by hundreds and thousands of other peaks, lakes, rocks, trees/groves and meadows are regarded as the abodes of local deities of Sikkim. In the early period, Chenreyzig, Dolma Tronyerchen and Guru Rinpoche, accompanied by his foremost 25 disciples, blessed this land and marked Tashiding, West Sikkim, as the centre of the Holy Land. 

  At the four directions of Tashiding, four holy caves blessed by Guru Rinpoche are located. In the middle period, Terton Rigzing Goedemchen (1337- 1408) located and blessed this hidden land. The later period commenced with the advent of the Naljor Chedshi in the middle of the 17th century AD as per prophesy of Guru Rinpoche. The modern history of Sikkim therefore, dates back to this century when three incarnates of Guru Rinpoche- Lhatsun Namkha Jigme, Kathok Rigzing Kuntu Zangpo and Gnadak Sempa Phuntsog Rigzing enthroned the first Chogyal (Dharma King) Phuntsog Namgyal at Norbugang, Yuksam in West Sikkim.

Records reveal that Phuntsog Namgyal assumed the seat of Dharma King in 1642 AD. But, the main consecration at Yuksam took place in 1646. Till that period, the hidden land was under the charge of Mon Thekongsalang, a Lepcha chief blessed by Guru Rinpoche as ‘Nadak’ (protector of the holy land). The evidence of these historic facts in existence are the foot prints and body marks of Guru Rinpoche on rocks and in holy caves and the stone coronation throne at Yuksam. Other evidences are the foot prints of Gyalwa Lhatsun Chenpo at Yuksam Norbugang and seat of Mon Thekongsalang at Thrakthungrong in West Sikkim.

Dejong Nayyik gives the description of Sikkim as Bayyul Demo Jong written in many Buddhist scriptures discovered or revealed by a number of Tertons (Dharma treasure revealers).

       H.E. Domang Terton Rimpochie (the present reincarnate of Gyalwa Latsun Chenpo)

 Naysol Pecha, another book written by Gyalwa Lhatsun Chenpo is a prayer text describing the whole range of Sikkim as Phu (interior), Dha (lower) and Bar (middle) parts as regions where guardian / local deities were posted for the protection of the land. He has given detailed names of the deities reminding them of the promises made to Guru Rinpoche. Forseeing the possibility of defilement of these abodes of deities in future, words were put in the book to appease them by prayers and offerings of sang, serkyem and tsog. 

For me it made sense that since we (as followers of Guru Rinpoche) cannot seem to take care of our precious inheritance so unique to Sikkim, and/or go about important religious ceremonies in a slap dash way.  Maybe we deserved what we got… in fact – call  me a cynic – but  I would’ve expected it sooner…then again I realize that this might not hold true for everyone and so this notion needn’t for all intents and purposes, make sense to you or you or you.

Now, on to the monasteries especially those that have been effected. The most holy chhorten in Sikkim is at Tashiding built in 1716. So sacred is it that the mere act of beholding it is supposed to cleanse from all sin, according to its name. Its full title is Thong-wa-rang-to, or “Liberation by Mere Sight.” It owes its special sanctity to its reputedly containing some of the funereal granules of the Buddha antecedent to Sakya Muni, the relics having been deposited there by Namkha Jigme Pawo, the third incarnate of Lhatsun Chenpo. As a result of this repute it is a favourite destination for pilgrims.

The legendary Bhumchhu event is held at Tashiding annually on the fifteenth day of the first lunar calendar. It might not be out of place to mention here, that the Holy water to fill the vase for the Bhumchhu is collected from Rothongchu, in West Sikkim.

The oldest monastery in Sikkim is Dubde in Yuksom meaning “the hermits cell”, founded by the pioneer Gyalwa Lhatsun Chenpo in 1642. I would recommend every Sikkimese to pay this blessed and ancient monastery a visit in his /her lifetime.

Sangnachholing meaning “the place of secret spells” is open to all members of all classes of Sikkim, even females and deformed persons. It was built in 1697. 

It is said that Pemiongchi meaning “the sublime perfect lotus” was designed, if not actually built, by Gyalwa Lhatsun Chenpo as a high class monastery for ta – sang “pure monks” of pure lhopo race, celibate and unreformed. Pemiongchi monks alone in Sikkim enjoy the title of ta-sang, and to its lama is reserved the honour of anointing with holy- waters the reigning Sovereign. (meaning only the Pemiongchi monks are entitled to coronate the Chogyal(s) of Sikkim).

The Enchey Monastery (Gangtok) meaning the “high strong place” was built in 1840. Folklore has it that a famous Lama Dubthob Karpu, flew from Mainam, in Yangang, South Sikkim, to the present Entchey Monastery site for meditation. The monastery stands on the very site of meditation today. A place revered and respected and in some ways feared too; this is another very important monastery that literally unifies sentient beings from all walks of life. 

So maybe…just maybe, this (September 18, 2011, earthquake) is a wakeup call for us all, to remind us how special Beyul Denjong truly is and how much is really at stake here. Let this not be some fairy-tale, some grandma’s tale a hundred years down the line but a reality like it feels to me even today, in spite of all the scepticism that might surround it… EVERY Sikkimese has the right to know our HISTORY - the way it has been told for time immemorial, the way I have known it myself and the way we can tell them on to the future generations.